Dancing With The Stars recap: switching up causes cranky judges

SAN DIEGO, October 13, 2014 – In its second appearance, “Switch-Up Week” notched another success on “Dancing With The Stars.”

Not only did viewers get to see the stars perform with new partners, they got to see several new dance styles for this season, and two that were brand new to the show, Burlesque and Broadway.

But if what you really want to know is who went home this week based on last week’s judges’ scores and fan votes, here’s the answer and it’s no spoiler: there was no elimination this week. But this doesn’t mean the performers could relax. Two weeks’ worth of judges’ scores and fan votes will all add up to the elimination next week. Anyone thinking they were in for a free ride this week, not the case.

After Monday’s show, the stars, pros, and most viewers were asking, “When is Len Goodman coming back?” The judges including regulars Carrie Ann Inaba, Julianne Hough, and Bruno Tonioli along with guest judge, British pop singer Jessie J, didn’t have a lot good to say about the new pairings. The overall scores included the lowest score given all season long.

The recipient of the low score was Michael Waltrip, whose Disco routine with Witney Carson scored just 20 points. Jonathan Bennett’s Jitterbug with Peta Murgatroyd didn’t fare much better. Peta could hardly hide her disappointment with the 25 points they received, but Jonathan was a good sport and said he enjoyed his switch-up week.

Jonathan Bennett was a good sport on Monday’s “Dancing With The Stars” in spite of a poor score for his Jitterbug with Peta Murgatroyd. Photo: ABC/Jonathan Bennett via Twitter

Lingering in the bottom third of the leaderboard was Tommy Chong and Emma Slater. The pair were hampered by a horrible song choice that was too slow for their Mambo routine.

One of these three couples is likely to go home next week, with the remaining six couples scoring high enough with both week’s scores combined to put some distance between them and the bottom three couples.

Even the standout couples this week didn’t achieve big scores. Alfonso Ribiero and Cheryl Burke did a fine Flamenco, though Julianne Hough criticized Alfonso’s poor posture at times. They sit at the top of the leaderboard just ahead of Lea Thompson and Val Chmerkovskiy, who ended the show with a Broadway number from the musical “Hairspray.” The 1960s soda shop jive routine was energetic and fun.

But there isn’t the kind of chemistry and synchronization between two dancers after a few days of rehearsal that judges and fans are used to seeing after five weeks of competition plus another month of rehearsal before the season. It makes everyone appreciate what these competitors have been able to accomplish.

It also makes us appreciate grumpy straight shooter Len Goodman. Who would have thought it? We have to wait one more week for Len’s return. The guest judge for next week’s show is singer/rapper Pitbull, a frequent performer and fan of “Dancing With The Stars.”

“Dancing With the Stars” airs Monday night, October 13 at 8 p.m. Eastern/Pacific Time on the ABC Television Network.

Viewers can vote via phone starting at the end of the “Dancing with the Stars” broadcast in each time zone. Online voting at www.ABC.com and on Facebook is open for 15 hours, beginning from the start of the episode on the East Coast at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and closing at 11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT the next day. These votes count toward the following week’s elimination.

“Dancing With the Stars” airs Monday night, October 20, at 8 p.m. Eastern/Pacific Time on the ABC Television Network.

Gayle Lynn Falkenthal, APR, is President/Owner of the Falcon Valley Group in San Diego, California. She is also a serious boxing fan covering the Sweet Science for Communities. Read more Media Migraine in Communities Digital News. Follow Gayle on Facebook and on Twitter @PRProSanDiego. Gayle can be reached via Google +

Please credit “Gayle Falkenthal for Communities Digital News” when quoting from or linking to this story.

Gayle Lynn Falkenthal, MS, APR, is President of the Falcon Valley Group, a San Diego based communications consulting firm. Falkenthal is a veteran award-winning broadcast and print journalist, editor, producer, talk host and commentator. She is an instructor at National University in San Diego, and previously taught in the School of Journalism & Media Studies at San Diego State University.